Table 2:
Carotid plaque CTA markers associated with IPHa
| Imaging and Clinical Characteristics by Vessel | IPH (−) (n = 144) | IPH (+) (n = 44) | P Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carotid NASCET percentage stenosis (mean) (SD) | 24.9 (29.5) | 53.5 (24.5) | <.001 |
| Mild (0%–49.9%) (No.) (%) | 112 (77.8) | 16 (36.4) | |
| Moderate (50%–69.9%) (No.) (%) | 16 (11.1) | 14 (31.8) | |
| Severe (70%–99.9%) (No.) (%) | 16 (11.1) | 14 (31.8) | |
| Carotid mm stenosis (mean) (SD) | 3.60 (1.47) | 2.27 (1.21) | <.001 |
| Carotid maximum total plaque thickness (mean) (SD) (mm) | 3.42 (1.83) | 5.93 (1.48) | <.001 |
| Carotid maximum soft-plaque thickness (mean) (SD) (mm) | 2.99 (1.60) | 5.26 (1.50) | <.001 |
| Carotid maximum hard-plaque thickness (mean) (SD) (mm) | 1.91 (1.72) | 2.97 (1.18) | .002 |
| Carotid plaque ulceration (No.) (%) | 43 (29.9) | 25 (56.8) | .005 |
| Carotid intraluminal thrombus (No.) (%) | 11 (7.6) | 6 (13.6) | .185 |
| Carotid calcification present (No.) (%) | 103 (71.5) | 43 (97.7) | .015 |
| Bulky calcification (≥2 mm) (No.) (%)b | 66 (45.8) | 36 (81.8) | .001 |
| Thin adventitial calcification (<2 mm) | |||
| Rim sign + (No.) (%) | 17 (11.8) | 39 (88.6) | <.001 |
| Rim sign − (No.) (%) | 60 (41.7) | 4 (9.1) | <.001 |
| Days between MRA and CTA (No.) (SD) | 5.6 (8.2) | 6.9 (9.3) | .453 |
| Male sex (No.) (%) | 103 (71.5) | 43 (97.7) | .017 |
| Age (mean) (SD) (yr) | 63.4 (14.1) | 73.5 (7.2) | <.001 |
| BMI (mean) (SD) (kg/m2) | 28.0 (5.2) | 28.1 (4.2) | .955 |
| Smoking (No.) (%) | |||
| Current smoker | 49 (34.0) | 4 (9.1) | .019 |
| Prior smoker | 34 (23.6) | 13 (29.6) | .534 |
| Hypertension (No.) (%) | 110 (76.4) | 37 (84.1) | .382 |
| Hyperlipidemia (No.) (%) | 88 (61.1) | 33 (78.6) | .092 |
| Diabetes (No.) (%) | 50 (34.7) | 24 (54.6) | .057 |
| Antihypertension (No.) (%) | 85 (59.0) | 33 (75.0) | .143 |
| Statin (No.) (%) | 68 (47.2) | 29 (65.9) | .080 |
| Antiplatelets (No.) (%) | 69 (47.9) | 27 (61.4) | .206 |
| Anticoagulation (No.) (%) | 13 (9.0) | 5 (11.4) | .713 |
Note:—IPH (−) indicates no MPRAGE positive plaque, and IPH absence; IPH (+), MPRAGE positive plaque, and IPH presence. Bulky calcification indicates calcified plaque of ≥2 mm. Two types of adventitial calcification were recorded, both with <2-mm adventitial calcification: Rim sign −, <2-mm soft plaque; Rim sign +, ≥2mm soft plaque.
From the 96 patients, 188 carotid arteries were analyzed after excluding occlusions (n = 4) and near occlusions (n = 0). Means/SDs were calculated using ordinary formulas. We based significance tests and P values on univariable generalized estimating equation Poisson regression, taking into account the correlation of up to 2 carotid arteries per person. Factors with P < .10 were included in the initial multivariable Poisson regression analysis.